David

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Donatello's David

     When comparing Donatello’s David and Bernini’s David, they appear very different in terms of their physicality. For instance, Donatello’s sculpture has a more feminine stance than that of Bernini’s. David stands in a relaxed ‘S’ curve position and is completely nude, except for the hat and boots he is wearing. This sculpture is known as the first unsupported standing work of bronze cast during the Renaissance. This statue is representational of just moments after David has slayed Goliath. David is holding the overly large sword of the giant, while his head rests under David’s foot. Each of these aspects led to a statue of triumph. 

Bernini's David

      Bernini’s statue of David is representational of a much different time during David and Goliath’s battle.  David has yet to take down the giant and is about to throw his sling that will defeat him. It took Bernini 7 months to carve this marble sculpture. This statue of David shows the armor he has shed at his feet, and is also shown nude except for a small cloth around his waist. Bernini’s perception of David is much more masculine, showing the tension and motion of battle. This sort of statue was rare for it’s time, as most statues were shown as frontal positions. Bernini challenged the viewer to examine the statue from its many angles and to see the power behind David’s throw. Bernini’s sculpture of David illustrates the Baroque era though the dramatic pose in which he sculpted the young man. This pose shows the tension and raw quality of the Baroque style.

Source Images:

http://inadvertentlyart.blogspot.ca/2009/11/donatello-took-risks.html 
http://www.3pipe.net/2013/02/why-art-history-bernini-david.html

Photography As An Art

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Fujifilm Finepix X100

       I think that anything that shows creativity and captures the essence of the moment is a form of art. Photography does just this, capturing emotions and interesting shots in the world we live in, that not everyone may see on their own. The creativity comes in when a photographer tries different angles and points of view, as well as distances from their subject. The subject matter is also something that photographers experiment with, finding things that others may not notice and making it beautiful through a shot. I would definitely categorize photography as an art form because there are so many different styles of photography that photographers develop naturally based on theirs interests and skill, just as painters of sculptors would. It takes practice and keen eye to visualize a potentially beautiful shot before it even happens. There is planning and preparing involved, whether it is the cameras they choose to use or the timing the photograph is taken. Photography is a form of expression as much as any other type of artwork.

Ansel Adams

         Now is everyone an artist because they take pictures? I think to some degree this can be true but the majority of the time only professionals are able to produce stunning shots based on their experience, practice and devices. However, that’s not to say that anyone can’t take a beautiful photograph because they certainly can. The matter of the fact is that a professional photographer puts much more thought into an image in order to create feeling and emotion when someone looks at their photos. I believe that some people just have an eye for photography and can find pick out an interesting shot in this non-stop world we live in. Finding the subject matter can be half the challenge, depending on where you are in the world and how far you are willing to go to get the perfect shot in terms of allowance and social acceptance. 

In saying this, I think that some photographers stand out among the rest of us for a reason. Photographers like Ansel Adams and Yousuf Karsh have earned their standing in the charts of greatest photographers of all time. They have a talent that many aspiring photographers will strive to reach and may never get there because photography, though it may seem like a fun career, takes discipline and time. Photography is difficult to climb the ranks in, but this does not mean it is impossible. 

Ansel Adam's Photograph

 

       
Source Images:
http://www.archives.gov/research/ansel-adams/
http://allthingsd.com/20130115/three-cameras-that-came-into-focus-at-ces/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ansel_Adams

Post-Impressionism

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I particularly like the artwork that arose during the post-impressionism era between 1885 -1910. This time period was considered to be a revolt against classic impressionism. The artwork created was characterized by bright colour and sharp or outlined edge work. The artists worked to create pieces with a more powerful and influential symbolism and emotion. The number of colours used in their paintings was dramatically simplified, resulting in borderline abstract work.

         Personally, I’m intrigued by the large brush stroke work because it creates an interesting texture in the subject matter, whether it is a landscape painting or figurative and everything in between. Though the colour pallet is much more limited, it does not take away from the work. If anything it adds to the skill in which these painters were able to perform. I can see how easily it would be to fall into the abstract side of things when using large brush strokes and only a few colours, but many artists were able to distinguish this and work to keep their paintings realistic. Not that abstract was ‘less desirable,’ because one of my favourite artists uses realistic images and adds a touch of his own style, creating an almost abstract work of art. This artist is Vincent Van Gogh. 

         Looking at Van Gogh’s work, I see the connection in many of his paintings. He liked to use curved line work to create movement and interest in his work. He also used large brush strokes and limited colour as many of the artists during the post-impressionism period. It is evident that Van Gogh’s favourite colour to work with was yellow. Every shade, every variation he could create. 

I am particularly attracted to this because my favourite colour of the pallet happens to be yellow as well. There is something about this colour that I always found to be capable of portraying both a light and heavy feeling. It truly is a diverse colour and depending on how it is used, it can create a happy, excited feeling, or a mellow, unsure feeling. Van Gogh exhibits the trends of this time period with great skill and passion. His emotions are seen through his work, in both the scenic paintings and the many self-portraits he created. This is essentially why I appreciate his work to such a degree.

Source Images

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/Vincent_van_Gogh_%281853-1890%29_-_Wheat_Field_with_Crows_%281890%29.jpg

http://www.vangoghgallery.com/catalog/image/0627/Self-Portrait.jpg

http://images.fineartamerica.com/images-medium-large/the-starry-night-vincent-van-gogh.jpg